SOMEONE ELSE S STORY. By Rick McNary. A Handy Guide to Writing Human-Interest Stories. with help from Meagan Cramer

Transcription

1 HOW TO TELL SOMEONE ELSE S STORY A Handy Guide to Writing Human-Interest Stories By Rick McNary with help from Meagan Cramer

2 The Joy of Telling Stories We all hear that farmers and ranchers need to tell their story but most are either too humble or too busy to write their story. This is where you come in: You can help tell their story. Would you like to write about farming and ranching but don t know where to start This guide will teach you how to listen and re-tell the inspirational stories that are told to you in simple and fun interviews. This step-by-step process will create a way to help you develop as a writer as well as providing a meaningful way to help farmers and ranchers share their story.

3 1STEP Selecting the right person/couple/family to tell their story Who do you know that has a good story that needs to be told Here are a few triggers to start you thinking: Raising an unusual crop or animal Using new technology to do work on the farm Creating a living in non-traditional farming/ranching methods Winning an agriculture award Family traditions of farming/ranching passed on through the years Unique ways farmers/ranchers are involved in their local community Farmers and ranchers as artists or athletes

4 STEP 2 Setting up the first interview Once you ve selected the person, set up a time to visit with them at their location. People are much more comfortable to talk in their own home versus any other place. Recording equipment: I sometimes use my smart phone that has a recording app. I also use a voice recorder that has small, built-in microphones, but a cell phone works well as long as there s not a lot of background noise. Places to interview: Dining room tables work great! But I ve also interviewed people while riding in vehicles, walking around barns and even sitting on a horse. Remind them why you want to write about them and where it might be published either online, a local newspaper, on your blog, etc.

5 Let them know it s human interest, not investigative journalism. You re not trying to dig up dirt. Rather, you are a person who loves telling the unique stories of others. (Farmers and ranchers are sometimes suspicious about interviews for just cause but you can calm their fears.) Taking notes: Don t. Record it and listen to it later. Taking notes is distracting to the people being interviewed. You are having a conversation with them so be fully engaged a recorder helps you do this. STEP 3 Questions to ask I have a series of questions I have memorized that I ask and, most of the time, they re just starter questions. Above all, be interested in them people love to tell their stories. ONE IMPORTANT RULE: You re there to ask about them, not talk about you. Someone once said it s easier to make a friend in five minutes by being interested in them rather than spending five hours trying to make them interested in you. This is true; don t make this about your story.

6 How long have you lived here (People love to talk about their home.) How long have you been farming How many generations before you have done this How did you meet (If they re a couple.) What are some of the biggest changes you ve seen since you started in farming/ranching What s the most enjoyable part of your work What s the most frustrating part of your work What do you do to stay up-to-date on your area of interest What are your future dreams/plans for your work

7 STEP 4 Post interview writing Now the fun part, but also the work, begins. After you leave, ask yourself what the most memorable or inspirational part was. Now you can take notes. Listen to the recording and write down the parts that seem pertinent to the story. Walk away from the notes and, again, ask yourself what most impressed you. How would you tell the story to your own family Now start writing. I often go back and forth between paragraphs with a quote from them followed by an explanation, observation, link to particulars or a more encompassing view. Hammer out the rough draft of 1,000 words without editing your work. The editing will come after you write. Go back and edit your work. Go back and edit your work. Go back and edit your work. You get the drift. It is in editing that you fine-tune the story. It s okay to take a bit of liberty to clean up their quotes as long as you maintain the integrity of what they said and keep their voice.

8 After you ve really worked it over, let someone you trust to be honest with you read it. My wife is my barometer. If she reads it and laughs or cries, then I know I ve hit a home run. If she tells me there s something missing, I ve been known to go back and interview again. STEP 5 Photography You don t have to be a professional photographer to capture images to go with your story. People love to see photos that accompany your story. Candid photos of them working. A family photo with their farm or a sign in their backdrop. Bird s eye view of their operations. Ask them if they have photos they would like to share. Sometimes, I interview people at the wrong time of the year and miss their crops, but most are more than happy to share images they ve captured. Unique photos of the history of the farm. Photos of them winning a prize or being given an award.

9 STEP 6 for Finding an outlet your writing There are numerous avenues for you to find a platform for your writings. These groups are often looking for new voices, especially as a freelance. Some might pay, but some might not. Local newspapers Trade journals Bloggers (they re called guest blogs ) Start your own blog National magazines State magazines Let us know how we can help you!